Press Room
Thousands Pour Into Colorado Winefest
September 18, 2010 (KREX) – Thousands pour in to the Grand Valley for the 19th annual Colorado Mountain winefest.
Fifty-six booths featured wines from throughout the state; almost half of them medal winners making it one of the most successful winefests yet.
Music, food, and lots of wine: it's the experience thousands got to taste at this year's Winefest in Palisade. Around 8,000 wine lovers poured in to the Grand Valley to drink premiere wine made here in Colorado.
"The Colorado Winefest is the premiere wine event in Colorado. Nationally, we're getting attention because we're in Better Homes and Gardens magazine on one of their top five best go to fest this year," Winefest executive director Sarah Catlin said.
Catlin said this year's Winefest is unique. Organizers emphasized the pairing of wine and food.
"My focus is more on good food to match the good wine. This year we're doing it a little bit different in that regard. It's not just focused on the wine but it's wine and food and keeping people busy all day long," Catlin said.
Who better to create that good food than celebrity chef Kelly Liken. Liken placed fourth on last season's TV show Top Chef.
"Pairing food with wine is very important. I really think that wine rounds out the whole culinary experience. You can have really great food and really great wine, but when you make a pairing, it just pops and transforms the entire dining experience," Liken said.
One winery's sale have transformed thanks to the Best of Fest medal.
"It's been busy all day long. We're probably going to sell out," Boulder Creek co-owner Mike Thompson said. The best of fest did sell out, you can find out how to buy the wine on our their website.
NewsChannel 5 are proud sponsors of the event.